Week 1 on Whole9

Well, what a crazy week it has been!  I felt like crap at dinner of day 1 -- then the rest of the week I have felt just fine!  So fine, in fact, that I cheated and weighed myself (you aren't supposed to during the first month, but I couldn't help myself) AND I'M DOWN 6.5 POUNDS IN ONE WEEK!!!!!!! 10 POUNDS TOTAL! I'M AT 10% WEIGHT LOSS!!!!! The kicker? I DIDN'T GO TO THE GYM ONCE THIS WEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I took a few 10-14 minute walks at work for a break and swam a few days in the pool. That. Is. It!  I was so curious to see what simply changing my diet would do and I lost 6.5 pounds.  CRAZY!  Just by keeping some dairy, sugar and grains out.  Starting tomorrow I'm back to the gym.  Can't wait to see what I lose this week.  It makes me wonder if my body will plateau or if I'll gain with putting on muscle.  Either way, clothes are fitting better and I feel good.  Bought some new workout shorts today, too :)

So what did I eat?  Well, for breakfast every day I had my egg bake that I told you about last time.  Lunches were either salads or leftovers from dinner.  One night I had "fried rice" made out of cauliflower with a pork chop and sugar-free applesauce. Omg, amazeballs.

Cauliflower fried rice

Another night I made pancakes out of a very ripe banana and 2 eggs.  Throw some cinnamon on top and OH. MY. GOD.  Tasted just like a banana bread pancake.  Next time I will be add some nuts to it!  They were so incredibly moist and just delish.  I can't wait until my bananas are ripe enough where I can do this again. MMMMMMMM

banana pancakes

Last, but not least... my room is a disaster area.  I moved to Pennsylvania for a few years.. acquired new clothes.. moved back home and had no room for anything.  So, I have bags of clothes ranging from size 10-16.  I can not WAIT to get back into my old clothes again. I look at these suckers every day and I can't wait to rip into them and wear them... soon :) 

soooo many clothes

I put together my fat pic from 1998/2000... to losing I think 50 pounds? I'm not even sure.. but the pic next to it is prom 2001 - my junior year of high school.  And, I still have that dress.  I WILL get back into it.  Not sure where I'll wear it to... lol... but I just want to zip it up again.  

Thanks again to all my friends, family, and coworkers for supporting me and helping me through this.  Really, the week was not bad.  I've had some people question this "fad diet" and it isn't.  Those people have never been more than 100 pounds overweight.  They can eat what they want and not put on a pound.  I don't expect them to understand.  Am I scared that after these 30 days I may fall into a sammich at lunch every day routine? Yes, I am.  But, it takes 3 weeks to make a change.  This will be 4 :)  I plan to keep it up -- but of course I will be adding back in things like cheese every now and then.  This is changing my lifestyle.  This is a 30 days "cleanse" of sorts.. but will last so much longer.  I've been finding so many yummy recipes.  Friends have given me recipes for pizza that I can't wait to try. 

Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.

Day 2... NO FLU!

Second day on Whole9 and I feel great!  Had a tiny headache during the day but it was no big deal.  For breakfast, I heated up a piece of my egg bake that I premade yesterday.  It was a variation of this.  I just cut up a bunch of veggies... cooked up some chorizo sausage and then put that on top.   Scrambled I think 10 eggs and poured it on top.  Baked it. Cooled it.  Put it in the fridge.  This will last me through the week!

Lunch was a big ole salad with a yellow pepper, broccoli, grape tomatoes, and strawberries.  Tossed it with my homemade greek dressing.

Dinner -- cut up half a zucchini and a few pieces of broccoli.  Sauteed it with some EVOO and garlic.  Added fresh basil and oregano a little later and a roma tomato.  Meanwhile, cooked up a burger on the stove.  Put the veggies on my plate -- added some pepper and red pepper flakes, and topped it with some Cholula hot sauce.  Put the burger on top with some dijon mustard and an avocado.  Filled me right on up!

Again, Whole9 is no grain.. no sugar.. no dairy and a few other no-nos.  Reading labels is key.  Check it out here and join me on the lifestyle change!

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future."  Deepak Chopra

Carb Flu

I have started a new lifestyle.. and let me tell you.. this is TOUGH.  I'm not even through day one.  It is the Whole9 lifestyle change.  Basically no sugar, dairy or carbs. Me not eating cheese? Are you kidding?  Thank God we aren't in football season yet -- I gotta have my beer during the games. I kinda did this on a whim.  My friend Stephanie told me about how she's never felt better and dropped a ton of weight so far - along with her boyfriend.  She talked me into it last night so I looked up some recipes this morning and thought I'd give it a whirl.  She has struggled with up-and-down weight as I have so if she found something that worked, I may as well try something else.  Breakfast was a couple eggs, green and red pepper, and an avocado.  Yum!  Lunch was a salad with a DELICIOUS dressing I made that I found on Pinterest.  Follow my board here for Paleo/Whole9 recipes.  Dinner was spaghetti squash with homemade sauce and turkey sausage.

I premade breakfast for tomorrow - an egg bake with a bunch of veggies and chorizo sausage.  Had a bite to try and it was yummy.  A little nuke in the microwave in the AM and I'll be set.

As I was munching on my dinner, I started to crave bread... bad.  I started to get a headache.  I never get headaches!  I texted dear old Stephanie and she said that is what is called the carb flu and to get used to it for a week or two.  I should prepare to feel nauseous, tired, and crave for two weeks.  After that I should feel golden.  Let me tell you -- I wanted to cry.  I felt like a hormonal teenager getting my period for the first time AND going through crack withdraws.  Not even a whole day through and I was craving bread.  Crazy how our bodies work.  She told me to push through and it gets better.  Mom suggest we take a dip in the pool.  That did the trick.  I felt much better.  I feel better now.

As for the weight -- I lost 2.5 pounds the first week... then gained 1.5 pounds over the next two weeks.  My exercise has been going well and my muscles are a lil achy so I'm not worried about the weight gain.  I can tell a difference in my thighs - hallelujah!  And, I even bought some new shorts and dresses :)  I bought a dress a few weeks ago while I was on vacay that was too tight and I wore it last week! HOLLER!

Share your recipes with me and other blog visitors!  Cheers to our fitness!

"Listen closely: the only time it's too late to change yourself is when you're dead. Until then, you're simply making excuses or lying to yourself."

Making it Public... Again

I posted on social media today a picture of the scale -- my produce haul -- and me exercising.  I'd love to add it here right now but it won't let me email it to myself.  Hmm.. well, check my Facebook or Instagram.  Needless to say, my birthday is in 2 weeks. My 8th anniversary of my 21st birthday as I like to say.  Then it'll be the big 3-0 next year.  #bikiniby30 -- that's my new thing.  I probably still have one shoved in the back of my drawer that I wore once, maybe twice... in the privacy of my home... when I lost weight back in high school. It's blue and sparkly -- doesn't get much better than that!  I'd love to whip that sucker out again!

I was back looking at some old posts where I said I wanted an Olympic butt lol.  Mine is so boring!  I remember a few years ago I was getting a nice shape to it from using the elliptical.  That's my fav machine!  Yesterday I did 20 mins on the bike... 30 mins on the elliptical... 30 mins circuit training... and prob 30 minutes of swimming/jumping around the pool.  Not bad, not bad.

Today I made some fun recipes from Pinterest.  A cucumber salad that was so simple and tasty!  Cut it up real thin... put it in a bowl... few squirts of lemon juice and EVOO -- a few dashes of chili powder to your liking.  Cover it - shake it - yum yum yum!

I also made sweet potato chips.  Cut the sweet potato real thin. Preheat 425.. cook for 15-25 minutes (depending on how thin you cut them - the thinner the better.)  I put some salt and vinegar in a bag and when the chips were done, add them, give a lil shake, and BAM a tasty and mostly healthy snack.

I just premade my salad for work tomorrow so I'll just have to put it in my lunchbox and head out the door!  Have some yogurt and fruit to snack on. Trying to cut down on carbs like so many have suggested and I know.  I have been cutting down on sammiches for lunch and have been adding more salads.  Think I'll bring some soup, too.  Soup and a salad... then head to the gym after.  Homework is going on the back burner.  I'm pretty much caught up with all that - just have to finish writing my Prospectus (what on earth is that anyway??)

Now -- I know the sweet potato is a starch... but isn't that a good carb since it's a veggie?  If you have some great recipes, share them in the comments!

I hope to be updating this more often now... including my little thermometer which I had been neglecting.  (I HAD been down 12 pounds... Now at 2.5... but no looking back.  Only forward.)

Time to bring back an old quote since I love my food... and need to remember moderation is key.

"Food does not taste as good as thin feels." -- Unknown

You're Beautiful

Sometimes you just need to hear the words, "You look beautiful." to help get the crank going.  Just realized it's been about nine months since my last update. Gained a couple pounds back.. but still down 5.  Ugh.  But recent events in my life have made me want to care more about myself... again.

I got all dolled up and met some friends out for drinks and the guys kept telling me how beautiful I looked throughout the night.  (And the boys showed up at different times, so it wasn't a chain reaction, either.)  It really made me feel special... which is funny because I should have been thinking, "Are they on crack?"  but I didn't.  I took the compliments and just felt so happy and comfortable in myself for some odd reason.  I don't know -- maybe they just seemed to mean it and it wasn't just something they felt they had to say.  With that, and a slew of other events, it's made me realize that I am beautiful - inside and out.  I just know I'd feel more comfortable feeling it and seeing it on the outside for myself.  

I have been walking with friends around my neighborhood.. and hitting up the gym every now and then... and swimming some laps in my pool now that it's warming up :)  

So for any guys out there reading this -- if you see a girl, tell her how beautiful she looks (and mean it.)  You never know what it means to her.  

"Our greatest glory is not falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius

Exciting Updates!

5 pounds down since moving home! WOOOO HOOOO! Went and bought some new shorts and a couple dresses for myself -- thanks to a gift card to Kohl's from my BFF, Nurse Molly!  Gotta love sales and coupons!

I went to Max-Wellness a week or so ago and picked up some coconut oil, vitamins, and fish oil. It started out on my girl's vacation with some of my BFFs from high school. They had mentioned B12 as a supplement to help with my weight loss. I had all intentions of adding that to my diet but I talked with a really nice lady who knew a LOT about the products in the store. She advised me to just start with a regular vitamin supplement and then in a week or two if I didn't feel I had enough energy to add the B12 for a little extra push.  Luckily I haven't needed to go pick it up though I don't really feel a difference in my energy level -- but I also haven't taken the vitamin every day.  I usually smash it and put it in my fruit smoothie.  The vitamin is all organic and doesn't have a pleasant smell buuuuut it's fine in my smoothie. Don't taste it at all.

The coconut oil also smells better than it tastes. I tried it just by itself and it had too much of an oily taste to it so I just add that in basically anything I'm cooking.  Eggs -- which sounds pretty gross but I figured what the heck? I needed to get it in so that's how I did it. Had an interesting taste to it.  If you like to try different foods, go for it.  If you aren't very much of a risk taker with foods, you probably won't like it. Luckily you can cook and bake with the coconut oil so it is very versatile. I also put this in my smoothie and it gives it a nice little coconut taste.

The fish oil -- let me tell you all something. I grew up in Florida but I can't stand fish. I've tried a few kinds but just isn't my cup of tea -- until I went on vacation last week and tried grilled salmon. Holy moly I LOVED it!!!! My other BFF, Marissa ordered it at the Salty Dog Cafe in Hilton Head, South Carolina and I remembered my friend who also doesn't like fish said she loved salmon so I wanted to give it a whirl. I was shocked with how it didn't taste like fish at all!  I said it tasted like a burger and chicken. Weird, right? The oil(?) had a resemblance to the grease of a burger but like the consistency of chicken. I don't know how else to explain it lol. Back to the fish oil -- I opted for the oil because I am not a good pill taker. I was worried it would taste fishy but it doesn't at all. It is lemon flavored and I also add this to my smoothies.  This is something you can't use to cook but can put on salads and other food.

From taking these supplements I've noticed my skin has a nice glow to it and is softer. Nurse Molly said I should notice it in my hair as well but I usually keep my hair up since I'm still looking for a job (shameless plug!) while I'm in school. I'm cutting my locks and donating them to Locks of Love on Friday.

Another pretty cool thing -- I received an email from a woman who works with Beachbody (P90x ring a bell with any of you? They created it!) and they've been reading my blog and would like me to write about their products so this could be cool!  Waiting on more information so I'll let everybody know if this is something I decide to take on.

"More die in the United States of too much food than too little." -- John Kenneth Galbraith

I Want an Olympic Butt

I'm back in Florida my friends and followers! The last week or two I've been doing nothing but cleaning up and putting away three years of my life from Pennsylvania back into my tiny room. What a concept. I have BAGS of clothes of all different sizes. Threw out a bunch of old. Was able to sell 1 shirt out of tens to Plato's Closet. The rest will be heading off to Goodwill in the coming days. Can't believe they didn't  buy more -- I have some nice stuff compared to some junk they sell in there!

I've been doing pretty well with the whole working out thing again. I pretty much failed the last year. Well, I wouldn't say fail -- maybe I would... but I definitely wasn't in it as I thought I would be. I did better during football season and that was my biggest fear! Go figure? I've since rejoined a gym here in my neighborhood so I really have no reason not to go -- and I've been every day since I signed up on Monday. High 5! I'm down 2 pounds since moving back home. We're on the third scale now and it reads 238. So I'm down 2 pounds since starting this a year ago. Pathetic. Really, pathetic. I have nobody to blame but myself. Thought it would have been easier up in Pennsylvania. Who was I kidding? Between going out to eat so much and having people up just about every weekend and out at the bars it's no wonder. Also, working from home didn't help... but I was out walking/wogging many mornings... until the rain came and it was hotter than Hell and our air conditioning wasn't keeping up... But that job is now over thank goodness and now I'm home and jobless for the time being until I get myself under control and start up school and see what my schedule is like. Then I'll find myself a nice part time job to help pay the bills. 

Anyway, enough about that. Back to the good stuff. Like I said, I've been exercising just about every day I've been home. In the pool, out for walks, and at the gym kicking butt. This week I've been on the elliptical for 33 minutes and then I do the weight circuit every other day. Next week I'll change up the cardio because I don't want my body getting used to anything. We all know that halts the weight loss and we certainly don't want that. :) Oh, about the title here with the Olympic butts... my goal is to have a butt like the beach volleyball players. Just about perfect aren't they? Who wants to go play? lol

I love my gym. There's never been more than four or five people at a time and it's all people who have -- shall we say -- retired. I smile seeing the old folks walk in with their khaki shots, shirt tucked in and wearing a belt to exercise. Gotta love it. Nice folks and you don't feel judged. Never a wait for machines. It's a peaceful workout where I can focus on myself.... and the one young guy I've seen in there. 

I took some pictures while there -- and while nobody was around because that would be a little awkward wouldn't it? lol. So here is how I looked as of Tuesday on my second day at the gym.

I don't know why these are showing up sideways... I edited them so they wouldn't and they show up fine on my computer. If anybody knows what the issues is, please let me know.

I'm not sucking in, just letting it "all hang out" as they say. Can't wait to see some changes. As for now, time to gulp down some more water and get ready for dinner!

"If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end" -- Julius Erving